Apparatus and method for providing inflated undulating figures

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing a dynamic gas-inflated object such as a figure with legs, a torso and head, and a pair of arms. The figure performs generally repetitive movements such as dance-like undulations in a manner that appears to keep time with music. The figure is hollow and connected to a continuous generally constant input flow of air or other gas under pressure. The figure is provided with at least two spaced-apart outlets or vents to allow a continuous discharge of generally all of the air being introduced into the figure. In operation, the figure tends to cycle between extending generally upright, then, as more air is discharged, destabilizing and moving to a contorted or bent position, then, as more air flows in, to extending, etc. The figure may be designed for extensive movement e.g., dancing or for a narrower range of movements. In a preferred form, the outlets are generally at the top of the head and at the ends of the arms. The dynamic figure movement is a result of the continuous generally constant input gas flow and does not depend upon any intentional intervention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for providing a gas suspended bendable object that, in response to a continuous generally constant flow of gas in an outward direction into the object and without intentional intervention, inflates to a generally outwardly extended position and then automatically and continuously performs movements between observably significantly different positions, 
 said apparatus comprising: 
 a) a gas delivery means for providing a continuous generally constant input flow of gas, and  
 b) an erectable hollow object comprised at least primarily of flexible sheet material, said object being connected to and in fluid communication with the gas delivery means to receive gas flow generally in the outward direction, said object having a hollow main section that has a generally central axis, said main section extending generally in the outwardly direction to an outward extended position by the flow of gas from the gas delivery means, said object also having at least one hollow ancillary section that is attached to and in fluid communication with the main section, said ancillary section extending away from the main section when generally filled with the gas,  
  said object including at least two spaced apart gas outlets spaced remotely from the gas delivery means for release of the gas from within the object, said outlets being proportioned so that generally all of the gas being continuously provided to said object is continuously released from said object through said outlets,  
  said gas delivery means, said object and said outlets being constructed, proportioned and arranged so that, without significant change in said gas flow from said delivery means or other intentional intervention, the object, after initially inflating to the generally outwardly extended position, automatically and continuously moves between observably significantly different positions.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of    claim 1    wherein there are at least two of said ancillary sections.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of    claim 1    wherein at least one of said outlets is located on said ancillary section.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of    claim 2    wherein at least one of said outlets is located on each of said ancillary sections.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of    claim 4    wherein the combined cross-section of said outlets approximate the cross-section of the main section when the object is erected.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of    claim 2    wherein the main section includes subsections that represent a torso and a head of a figure, the main section having an outward end and the head being at said outward end, the ancillary sections each representing an arm of the figure.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of    claim 6    wherein the portion of the main section opposite the head is bifurcated to form a separate pair of subsections each representing one leg of the figure.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of    claim 7    wherein the arm sections and the leg sections are each about twice the length of the torso section.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of    claim 6    wherein the head and arm sections each have one of said outlets, and the cross-section of the torso section is equal to or larger than the combined cross section of said outlets from the head and arm sections.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of    claim 7    wherein each of said leg subsections has an inward portion and the gas delivery means comprises a pair of spaced apart fans each connected to and in fluid communication with the inward portion of one of said leg subsections.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of    claim 7    wherein the gas delivery means comprises a single fan having a bifurcated output to a pair of spaced apart ports, each port being connected to and in fluid communication with the inward portion of one of said leg subsections.  
     
     
         12 . A method for providing an object that, in response to a continuous generally constant flow of gas in an outward direction into the object and without other intentional intervention, is inflated to a generally outwardly extended position and then automatically and continuously moves between observably significantly different positions, said method comprising: 
 a) providing a continuous generally constant flow of gas,    b) providing a hollow object comprised at least primarily of flexible material, the object having a main section that has a generally central axis, said object also having at least one ancillary hollow section that is attached to the main section remotely from where the main section receives the flow of gas, the ancillary section being in fluid communication with the main section, and when generally filled with the gas extending generally away from the main section,    c) directing the flow of gas in the outward direction into the object so as to generally fill the object and inflate it to the outwardly extended position with said central axis extending generally in said outward direction,    d) then generally continuously releasing gas from the filled object from at least two substantially spaced apart locations, the quantity of the gas being continuously released generally equaling the quantity of the gas being continuously delivered to the object, and    e) arranging and configuring the sections of the object, the locations and amount of the gas being released, and the rate of gas flow delivered into the object, so that, without significant change in said gas flow into the object or other intentional intervention, the object initially generally fills-up and assumes the generally outwardly extended position, and then automatically moves between observably significantly different positions.    
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12    wherein there is at least one discharge from the main section and at least one discharge from the ancillary section.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the generally continuous flow of the gas into the object is selectively changeable to different generally constant rates to accommodate different conditions.  
     
     
         15 . A hollow figure that, in response to a continuous generally constant flow of gas in an outward direction into the figure and without other intentional intervention, inflates to a generally outwardly extended position and then automatically and continuously moves between generally outwardly extended positions and observably significantly different positions, 
 said figure being comprised at least primarily of flexible sheet material, said figure, when at least substantially inflated to the extended position, having: 
 a) at least one elongated leg section having an inner portion for connecting to a generally continuous flow of gas to receive the flow generally in the outward direction, said leg section also having an outer portion,  
 b) a torso section extending generally in the outward direction, said torso section having an inner portion and an outer portion, said torso inner portion connected to and in fluid communication with the outer portion of said leg section,  
 c) a pair of arm sections each having an inner portion connected to and in fluid communication with the outer portion of said torso section, each arm section also having an outer portion that has a generally outwardly directed gas outlet, and  
 d) a head section that has a inner portion connected to and in fluid communication with the outer portion of the torso section, said head section being in general alignment with said torso axis, said head section also having an upper portion that has a generally outwardly directed gas outlet,  
   said outlets being proportioned so that generally all of the gas being continuously provided to the figure is continuously released from the figure through said outlets,    said figure and said outlets being constructed, proportioned and arranged so that, when the figure is connected to a source of gas that delivers into the figure a continuous generally constant flow of gas in an outward direction, without any intentional intervention, the figure, after initially generally inflating to a generally outwardly extended position, then automatically moves between generally outwardly extended positions and observably significantly different bent positions.    
     
     
         16 . The figure of    claim 15    wherein the arm sections and the leg sections are each about twice the length of the torso section.  
     
     
         17 . The figure of    claim 15    wherein the combined cross-section of the leg sections is generally equal to the cross-section of the torso section.  
     
     
         18 . The figure of    claim 15    wherein the cross-section of the torso section is generally equal to the combined cross section of the outlets from the head and arm sections.  
     
     
         19 . The figure of    claim 15    wherein said outwardly extended position is generally vertical.  
     
     
         20 . The figure of    claim 19    being generally unstable in its inflated upright position by virtue of its dimensions and configuration so as to tend to tilt to a bent position when it reaches a generally extended upright position.